You did it.  You took the first step and you’re ready to listen to Episode 1 of A Matter of Principals. In this episode you meet some of the faculty that teach in the Edgewood College Educational Leadership Program. There’s Mike Hernandez.  A principal for seventeen years currently serving as the building principal at Madison East High School in the Madison Metropolitan School District. Jennifer Apodaca. Former Associate Principal at Waukesha School district and current Director of Pupil Services at Sun Prairie School District.  Jennifer has served in a leadership roles for the past 12 years. And Dr. Gerardo Mancilla.  Dr. Mancilla brings over ten years experience and is the Director of Educational Leadership Programs at Edgewood College. In this episode we explore the big WHY question?  Why did each of these professionals decide to go from teacher to leader.  Something to pay attention to is what the faculty refer to as the ripple effect. Also you get a glimpse of what it’s like to participate in the classes taught by these powerful leaders. Want more? Then Let’s get to episode 1 of A Matter of Principals: The Principal’s Office

What are the challenges educational leaders face in today's public schools? In this episode Mike, Jennifer, and Gerardo take on this question first from their own experiences and then how they address the challenges Edgewood students encounter as the prepare for a future as a school leader. The discussion is rich especially when the idea of leading from a culturally responsive and linguistically diverse perspective is introduced. And finally, Mike, Jennifer, and Gerardo put forth the concept of leading for change—change agents. How is that the Leadership program at Edgewood College positions future leaders to be the change agents needed in schools. How do you learn to lead from a culturally and linguistically sensitive frame? How can Leadership be a Subversive Act? Time to listen to Episode 2. Challenged accepted.

Name It and Claim It. What is the future of the principalship and education leaders? Instructional leader? Arbiter of inequities? Community Activist? What about all three and more. In Episode 3 of A Matter of Principals, Jennifer, Mike, and Gerardo revisit culturally relevant pedagogy and then give us a sense of where education leaders are headed in the future. What does that future look like? Community! Community activism. Community engagement. Community schools. We are naming and claiming the issues in the school and local communities and creating a culture of leadership that best serves the community and the ALL of the children. Get ready to "block, pave and plow."

In Episode 4 Tim, Lalo, Mike and Jennifer dig into the "why" question.  What's your "why" for wanting to be a leader in schools?  Why social justice? Why culturally relevant pedagogy? And most importantly, Why Edgewood College is the destination of choice when you're ready to become a school leader.

In Episode 5 meet the students. What is it like to experience the educational leadership program at Edgewood College? Listen and learn.